tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861480576960760833.post4372127374227392680..comments2018-03-19T11:07:40.290+00:00Comments on Woolgathering in North East England: Praying for the ElectionAquiloniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15098649175728796819noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861480576960760833.post-264391045633659042017-04-26T15:32:46.425+01:002017-04-26T15:32:46.425+01:00Thanks for these comments. I appreciate thoughtful...Thanks for these comments. I appreciate thoughtful online debate about this and so much else, and am glad that in a modest way, this blog can still contribute to it. Aquiloniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15098649175728796819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861480576960760833.post-73255979881450061552017-04-26T15:28:12.079+01:002017-04-26T15:28:12.079+01:00Michael, I am so glad you didn&#39;t retire your b...Michael, I am so glad you didn&#39;t retire your blog when you left Durham. I always enjoyed hearing you speak live. And this is great. Prayer&#39;s being a binary exercise. Or rather, not! Brilliant. I suspect this election will turn out exactly as our &quot;vicar&#39;s daughter&quot; intends. She will get a bigger majority and a re-start of the clock for her reign. Labour just doesn&#39;t cut it as a feasible opposition, and everyone discounts the Lib. Dems. A pity, since it seems to me that spending a bit more than the Tories, and taxing a bit less than Labour is a good and sensible position to take up! And I&#39;m afraid that Mr. Farron&#39;s explicitly religious views won&#39;t cut it. Anyway, thanks for this. I do think Justin should speak out. Pity.<br /><br />Athenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497065436976563532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861480576960760833.post-49675569308080287052017-04-23T08:22:31.556+01:002017-04-23T08:22:31.556+01:00Is there any chance you could send this excellent ...Is there any chance you could send this excellent reflection to the current Incumbent at Lambeth Palace? Having declared that he &#39;will not be commenting on the election&#39; this may just remind him that he - and the C of E more generally - is there to serve the people of England; not just those who pitch up in a particular kind of church every Sunday. Mrs Thatcher must be cheering from the grave. At last, a prelate who only comments on &#39;spiritual&#39; things. Kyrie eleison.Spirit of David Jenkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861480576960760833.post-38576336116841793922017-04-22T06:27:42.482+01:002017-04-22T06:27:42.482+01:00We can only hope that both Politicians and Elector...We can only hope that both Politicians and Electors heed the words of your prayer. The signs so far are of a combative election campaign, with allegations from all sides and rumours of coalitions and unofficial coalitions to keep the Tories out of power.<br /><br />I am all in favour of a coalition that takes the wider interest of the country and our neigbbours in Europe into consideration, but I am not seeing much about protection of the environment, care for the stranger within and without our borders and for the poor and vulnerable. Mr Corbyn argues for a fairer society, but is paid for by interest groups, who actually want to increase the power and influence of their own interest, not that of the greater majority of the country. The Liberal Democrats are living in their cloud of unknowing, Brexit totally dominating their campaign, again in the interests of a minority. The SNP are betraying a narrow nationalistic focus with everything focused on their Independence, and no worry about the huge numbers who voted against it and them in the last referendum. The Greens are trying hard to be the party of choice and are prepared to work with anyone who will commit to their agenda, which is a good thing, but they might regret getting into bed with labour in particular - fortunately, so far, that doesn&#39;t appear to be an option.<br /><br />Where are the honest, open politicians, fighting for the greater good - they seem to be silenced by the noise of the party machines. Perhaps independent candidates will get in here and there, but their influence in parliament will be little, unless they coooperate with others.<br /><br />I am a cynic about politics and while I acknowledge there are many good, hardworking MP&#39;s, many of them have their hands tied as they are dependent upon the party machine for funding and support and in a duty of obedience to the party line, once elected.<br />UKViewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18114944341930758335noreply@blogger.com